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Fullerton Police Arrest Sexual Battery Suspect

Fullerton Police, in conjunction with California State University Fullerton Police, have arrested Jose Alfredo Gradilla-Cuevas (21) of La Habra, believed to have been involved in multiple incidents of sexual battery over the past several months. Detectives from the Fullerton Police Department had been actively searching for a male suspect involved in at least seven reported incidents of sexual battery on females in the northeast area of Fullerton near California State University, Fullerton.

All of the incidents allegedly occurred between August 2014 and February 2015 during the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. In each case, the suspect approached the female victims from behind and sexually battered them by grabbing private part of their bodies. The suspect would then immediately flee the area. None of the victims were injured in the reported sexual battering incidents.

In all cases, the suspect was described as a male Caucasian or Hispanic, 21 years to 29 years, between 5’-6” and 5’-11” with dark hair. He was often reported as wearing a dark colored shirt or sweater and dark colored pants or jeans.

During their search for the unknown suspect, they located Gradilla-Cuevas driving a vehicle similar to one captured on a security video in the area of an earlier assault. Detectives began surveillance which continued for the next several weeks, where Gradilla-Cuevas was seen stalking dozens of potential victims in Fullerton, Placentia and La Habra.

On February 24th, 2015 at approximately 7:10 p.m., detectives observed Gradilla-Cuevas driving a vehicle slowly in the area of Nutwood and Placentia Avenues. He was observed watching a lone female walking eastbound along Nutwood Avenue approaching Placentia Avenue. Gradilla-Cuevas quickly parked and exited his vehicle. He then ran up behind the lone female victim and slapped her buttocks. Gradilla-Cuevas ran from the area on foot. He was immediately detained and arrested following this incident of sexual battery, which was similar to the prior reported incidents.

Based on our investigation, we believe there may potentially be additional victims in the cities of Fullerton, Placentia, and La Habra. Anyone with any information about Gradilla-Cuevas or any of these incidents is urged to contact Detective C. Wright of the Fullerton Police Department Family Crimes Unit at (714) 738-6754.

Those wishing to provide information anonymously can call the Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1(855) TIP-OCCS or to their website at www.crimestoppers.org.